Placecards....To have or not to have???

[Strawdermangrl]

So as things are winding down....45 days to be exact, we are getting the programs finished and debating on the placecard thing. So what is the offical stance on this? We are having a sit down dinner so what is the general consensous?

 

[AChiOAlumna]

If you''re having a sit-down dinner, then you''ll want to have placecards...

I went to a wedding where they didn''t do this. As a result larger groups that watned to sit together took up majority of seats leaving odd number leftover seats at many tables. Many couples had to split up to eat for lack of seating space.

Using placecards will make things less awkward for your guests.

 

[ammayernyc]

Do you mean placecards on the tables or cards telling people at which table to sit?

Of all the weddings I''ve been to (about 12), I have never seen placecards on the table. I have only seen cards which give people table assignments. I think those are necessary -- unless you have a big chart just telling people which table they are at.

 

[Blue824]

I know it''ll be a pain when you have to figure out who sits where, but it''ll be easier on your guests with place cards.

 

[MelissaSue]

I really like having place cards. You don''t neccessarily need them for a sit down dinner (we are doing a combo plate.. so everyones eating the same thing..) but, I think they''re a nice touch. My best friend didn''t use them (she did a combo plate too) and it sort of seemed like people were wandering around, not knowing where to sit, like new kids in the cafeteria.

 

[FireGoddess]

I definitely vote for placecards...for the reasons already said. It''s not as easy as it sounds to place people who don''t know each other together, and to fit the correct number at each table....and you have the whole guest list! Imagine trying to do it on the fly at the reception as a guest! I just assigned people to tables...they brought their card to the table and sat wherever they wanted at the table. I took personalities into account when making my arrangements....I had lots of people calling me up in the following weeks to tell me how much they enjoyed meeting and sitting with so-and-so. It worked wonderfully.

But aside from all that - the main reason - you don''t want an empty odd chair here or there at the reception...with dazed couples who have no room to sit together wondering what''s going on.

 

[Strawdermangrl]

Man....well I guess I know what I need to do!! I have a cute idea for the table names though- he proposed in Vegas so we are getting the tables named after the different hotels in Vegas...any comments??

Thanks for the feedback, you guys are the best!

 

[gingerBcookie]

I''m with the majority here -- I vote placecards for table number but not actual seat. I went to a wedding, sit down dinner, no seating assignments at all and it was awkward and uncomfortable figuring out where to sit.


LOVE the LAS VEGAS hotels idea -- sooo cute!!! And just an idea, make the sign represent the theme of that hotel!!! Super easy would be o just get postcards or pictures of the actual hotel or if your more craftsy, make someting that repersents that hotel -- like drawings of a little eiffel tower, one of those canal boat thingies that I can''t remember for the life of me what they''re called, a little merlin''s hat or knight''s helmet, a crown of olive leaves - you get the idea! So cute! I love it!

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 6/28/2005 6:55:21 PM
Author: Strawdermangrl
Man....well I guess I know what I need to do!! I have a cute idea for the table names though- he proposed in Vegas so we are getting the tables named after the different hotels in Vegas...any comments??

AWESOME, awesome idea!!!! I love it!

 

[ame]

Sit down dinners pretty much require it. We made only 4 reserved tables, they are noted on the cards. Everyone else can choose their own seats.

 

[jellybean]

Date: 6/28/2005 2:33:29 PM
Author: AChiOAlumna
If you''re having a sit-down dinner, then you''ll want to have placecards...

I went to a wedding where they didn''t do this. As a result larger groups that watned to sit together took up majority of seats leaving odd number leftover seats at many tables. Many couples had to split up to eat for lack of seating space.

Using placecards will make things less awkward for your guests.

We went to a wedding where this happened. When everyone arrived at the reception it was like a fire drill with everyone trying to find a seat.

I love the Vegas hotel idea! Very cute!

 

[rms]

Date: 6/28/2005 6:55:21 PM
Author: Strawdermangrl
Man....well I guess I know what I need to do!! I have a cute idea for the table names though- he proposed in Vegas so we are getting the tables named after the different hotels in Vegas...any comments??

Thanks for the feedback, you guys are the best!

I love that idea. Very cool. We did something similar. My husband loves baseball and last year we took a 2 week road trip to see a bunch of games, as well as having seen other games throughout the year. So our tables each had a team name with the team''s logo on it.

 

[diamondfan]

I totally agree with placecards (i.e. putting certain people together). The flip side of which is making sure certain people ARE NOT near eachother! At my wedding, the only thing my now DH wanted to be involved in was seating...apparently there were feuds in the group of people on his side, and divorces and we had both members of the divorced couples attending (one with a date one not, that type of thing...) It is not likely that you have something similar going on, but I am sure you have friends on both sides who have never met and would be a good fit! There is something really nice about sitting at a wedding dinner with really great enjoyable people and finding tons to talk about...one thought, what does anyone think of singles being put together? I have a couple single friends who hate being at tables full of couples, if they do not have SO''s they feel all the people talk about are their weddings, kids, etc...but maybe sitting singles together calls attention to it! Just curious...

 

[msb700]

Date: 6/28/2005 2:34:56 PM
Author: AmandaPanda
Do you mean placecards on the tables or cards telling people at which table to sit?

Of all the weddings I''ve been to (about 12), I have never seen placecards on the table. I have only seen cards which give people table assignments. I think those are necessary -- unless you have a big chart just telling people which table they are at.

I went to a wedding once where they had arranged seating for their guests and it was soooo difficult trying to find our names on the big chart! There was a queue by the door, and we were squinting trying to find our names...a bit messy.. I agree that having cards telling ppl which table they sit on would be nice (and that can be pre-arranged and sent out with the invitations to make it easier?)

Just a thought! Good luck

 

[Strawdermangrl]

Date: 6/30/2005 12:53:12 AM
Author: msb700

Date: 6/28/2005 2:34:56 PM
Author: AmandaPanda
Do you mean placecards on the tables or cards telling people at which table to sit?

Of all the weddings I''ve been to (about 12), I have never seen placecards on the table. I have only seen cards which give people table assignments. I think those are necessary -- unless you have a big chart just telling people which table they are at.

I went to a wedding once where they had arranged seating for their guests and it was soooo difficult trying to find our names on the big chart! There was a queue by the door, and we were squinting trying to find our names...a bit messy.. I agree that having cards telling ppl which table they sit on would be nice (and that can be pre-arranged and sent out with the invitations to make it easier?)

Just a thought! Good luck

I wish I would have thought of sending them out with the invites but they went out 2 weeks ago..... Oh well, I gave my mom the link to this thread and she went through last night so we are going to work on the seating this weekend. LOL, we are going to put all of my FI parents invites together b.c we have NO CLUE who they are!! heheheee....

Thanks for all this guys!!

 

[elepri]

At my friend''s wedding, they had the staff (waiters?) great guests at the entrance and tell them where they were seated. It worked really well and they had a pretty big wedding. So i think it''s a viable alternative to placecards.

 

[Blue824]

Date: 6/30/2005 11:25:15 AM
Author: Strawdermangrl

Date: 6/30/2005 12:53:12 AM
Author: msb700


I went to a wedding once where they had arranged seating for their guests and it was soooo difficult trying to find our names on the big chart! There was a queue by the door, and we were squinting trying to find our names...a bit messy.. I agree that having cards telling ppl which table they sit on would be nice (and that can be pre-arranged and sent out with the invitations to make it easier?)

Just a thought! Good luck

I wish I would have thought of sending them out with the invites but they went out 2 weeks ago..... Oh well, I gave my mom the link to this thread and she went through last night so we are going to work on the seating this weekend. LOL, we are going to put all of my FI parents invites together b.c we have NO CLUE who they are!! heheheee....

Thanks for all this guys!!

If you sent them out with the invite that''d be confusing, wouldnt it? You have to wait to hear back and make sure you know who is coming so you have your guest list and then can make your seating chart. If they did the seating chart before the RSVPs you''d have a lot of rearranging to do!

 

[kanne]

ooooh! I want to be at the Bellagio table! We were in Vegas last Sept and loved that hotel.

I think that cards are a good idea. You can set them up on a table at cocktail hour and people can find their table number (or name).

 

[Dodger Gurl]

I agree - do the placecards if you can. I plan on doing this because even though we will assign the seating, having the placecards at the actual seats at the tables will hopefully discourage people from switching seats and also will help people who don''t want to bother looking for their names on the seating chart.

 

[msb700]

Date: 6/30/2005 9:19:51 PM
Author: Blue824


If you sent them out with the invite that''d be confusing, wouldnt it? You have to wait to hear back and make sure you know who is coming so you have your guest list and then can make your seating chart. If they did the seating chart before the RSVPs you''d have a lot of rearranging to do!

Good thinking..never thought about that (having to wait for RSVPs)....!!

its very interesting to see how different cultures plan for weddings...Wedding back home are soooo different!! (my mom always wished that one of her daughters would have a European/American style wedding, but it just didn''t work out with me..maybe she''ll have better luck with my sisters

...)

 

[curlygirl]

Bumping this up because I have a question!

How do you address the place cards? If it''s a married couple, I would assume you do "Mr. and Mrs. Smith". But what if it''s someone with their boyfriend/girlfriend/guest? Do you give them individual cards but obviously have them at the same table? Or do you put each of their names on the same card? I can''t remember what I''ve seen at weddings I''ve been to. I''m thinking you just put both names on one card but wanted to consult with my bride advisors here! Thanks!

 

[ammayernyc]

Date: 7/8/2005 3:55:38 PM
Author: curlygirl
Bumping this up because I have a question!

How do you address the place cards? If it''s a married couple, I would assume you do ''Mr. and Mrs. Smith''. But what if it''s someone with their boyfriend/girlfriend/guest? Do you give them individual cards but obviously have them at the same table? Or do you put each of their names on the same card? I can''t remember what I''ve seen at weddings I''ve been to. I''m thinking you just put both names on one card but wanted to consult with my bride advisors here! Thanks!

Every wedding that I''ve been to has had both me and my bf on the same card. Sometimes it''s alphabatized according to the last name of the man, but other times it''s alphabatized by the last name of the person who knows the married couple...

 

[elepri]

BFs and GFs usually go on the same card. You can either list the names alphabetically or just do your closer friend first and their SO second. I''ve seen it done both ways.

 

[heart prongs]

We had to have one for each person because we had a choice for food and our wedding coordinator doesn''t like asking people what they''re having at the table ... you may want to check with how your reception site does things to save you any hassle!